answering machine

I cannot stop them. If I don't write them down, I do not know where else they will go.

On July 17, 1997, I arrived home to find you had left me a message on my answering machine.

Your message: "Hi C****, it's A** from the D******** D******. Boy is it hot today. I was wondering if you wanted to do something sometime."

There was more, but my head was so full of heaven all I remember is your voice, your casual mention of the weather and other small talk, before the question.

I felt as though I could fly to band practice. A few days later, I stopped by the store when you were working and we settled on a date- July 20. It took some planning, if I am not mistaken... both of us had a lot of conflicts.

Years later, I would ask you, why did you ask me out? I asked because as the years went by you seemed less and less interested in me. Your answer was not exactly what I was looking for, but still sweet: "Because I knew you never would."